Chat Control 1.0 and 2.0 Explained
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
The EU's Chat Control 1.0 expired in April 2026, but the Council is attempting to revive it via an expedited procedure.
Chat Control 1.0 was a temporary derogation allowing voluntary scanning of private messages for child sexual abuse material, adopted in 2021 and extended until April 2026. The European Parliament rejected further extensions in March 2026, leading to its expiration. The Council subsequently proposed a formally new law with identical content via an expedited procedure. Parliament voted 331-303 to fast-track this revival, with a binding vote on July 9 requiring 361 MEPs to stop it. Chat Control 2.0, a permanent regulation requiring platforms to bypass end-to-end encryption, remains deadlocked after five trilogue rounds, with no agreement on suspicionless scanning.
What commenters are saying
Commenters are alarmed by the Council's revival attempt, noting the expired derogation's implications for privacy. One highlights that the EU Parliament voted 331-303 to fast-track the measure, with a binding vote on July 9 needing 361 MEPs to block it. Another criticizes the focus on chat control over other EU priorities like energy security, arguing the EU should build domestic capacity instead of controlling privacy. A third warns against dismantling the EU, suggesting the UK's Online Safety Act shows leaving the bloc doesn't prevent similar laws. The thread reflects frustration with the EU's legislative process and privacy erosion.